Getting to grips with customs documents can feel challenging, and for those dealing with goods in certain restricted or controlled categories there is even more to consider. But it’s important not to let this hold you back. With the right knowledge to hand, you can expand into these areas while avoiding any unnecessary problems or delays.

When you’re shipping controlled goods, one of the first things to understand is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Requirements for importing and exporting can vary significantly depending on the goods being shipped and the countries they are travelling between. Who your customer is – whether a commercial business or private individual – can also play a part in the rules you’ll need to follow.

So before starting, it’s important to be clear on the finer details of your shipment. As a starting point, ask yourself the following questions:

What am I shipping?

Where am I shipping it to?

Who am I shipping it to?

You’ll need to include this information on your shipping documentation anyway, but starting the process early will help you to be fully prepared. See how to complete a commercial invoice, and how to find the right Harmonised System (HS) Code for your goods.

And keep in mind that some restrictions may not seem obvious to everyone. One example of this is when countries have restrictions in place on certain goods due to cultural or religious grounds. For instance, items bearing an image of Buddha are subject to certain additional controls before entering Thailand.¹

The next step is to determine what controls or restrictions your goods may be subjected to, and what you will need to do in order to send the shipment. You can usually find this information on the customs website of the country you’re shipping to; for example, if you’re shipping to the U.S., you can find information about restricted goods on this page of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection force website. Typically, information on a country’s customs website is published in the local language and in English.

Some of the requirements you may come across include:

Controlled goods may be subject to different import duties when they enter certain markets. Make sure you’re fully aware of these, as they could have implications for your pricing strategy to customers in that market. And remember, excise duties may apply to alcohol or tobacco products being shipped within the EU as free trade rules may not apply to certain controlled goods.

Shipping controlled goods typically requires some additional paperwork and information as a minimum. This can include permissions or specific licences, and the requirements might be applicable to the importer or the exporter of the goods. For example, for alcohol imports to a business in the U.S., both sender and receiver require a licence to sell alcohol.

Beyond paperwork and taxes, there could be other customs requirements for controlled goods, too. For example, there may be a limit on the quantities that can be imported, and some markets may require that goods or their packaging meet specific standards.

Once you have got to grips with the requirements for the goods you will be shipping, it’s a good idea to calculate how they will fit into your existing business processes. For example, think about how much more time you may need to process orders for controlled goods to international markets.

If goods are subject to additional customs checks, your shipments are likely to take longer to arrive at their destination. This could require you to manage customers’ expectations around delivery times, or, if you are importing controlled goods as stock, place orders further in advance.